Prophets and profits

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟯:𝟯𝟰‭-‬𝟯𝟱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗳𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗭𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗵, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗿.

The parable of the landowner who sent his servants to collect rent was very thinly veiled. The religious rulers and authorities in Jerusalem were rebellious tenants, lording what they knew and what they had over the people. Any prophet sent to call them to righteousness that was the heart of the Law of Moses, was maltreated, even killed. Such talk threatened their position. Prophets endangered their profits.

The generation of leaders alive at the time Christ’s arrival in Israel were to bear the guilt of all who came before. That’s because it was no mere prophet visitation they witnessed – it was God the Son. Their crucifying him would carry the guilt weight of all who came before; such was the miraculous and doctrinal witness they had seen. They had seen it and attributed it to the work of the devil, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the only unpardonable sin.

There is no payback in justice, only a making right of wrong. In that there is punishment for the wrongdoer and some of that is severe, even eternal. The prophets uniformly strongly advocated for justice for the poor, and ministry on behalf of the downtrodden was central to Jesus’ purpose on earth as well. Many of the miracles not only restored physical well-being but elevated their recipients to a better, more productive and permanently rewarded life. Arguably, the prospect of lifting people up (from under foot) was the central terror of the religious leaders. They NEEDED poor know-nothings to exploit and serve them. In the theology of the religious rulers, the poor pleasing them was the same as pleasing God.

Do I resist the prophet? Do I cling to position and whatever power I have come into – including the power of influence? I certainly do not want to. While New Testament prophecy is to undergo testing (𝟭 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟱:𝟮𝟭 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱), corrective words spoken tend to be opposed.

Without question, “prophets” can be equally intoxicated with power as anyone else, but there is a real deal. Authentic prophecy is not necessarily pleasing; it brings me up short.

It was God’s love that motivated Jesus. It was God’s love that motivated those who came before. Love pulls no punches but is expended for my good. A strong ploy goes on in the mind where the supposed motives of those who don’t please me become malicious and oppressive. While that can happen, let me learn to take those thoughts captive and let God speak. For I need to hear all God says.

Scourge of miserable comforters

J𝗼𝗯 𝟭𝟲:𝟭 “𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲; 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂!”

and

𝟭𝟲:𝟰-𝟱 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲; 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂; 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳.

The lion’s share of the book of Job contains the theories, platitudes and high brow criticism towards Job concerning the disaster that had befallen him. Certainly, his state terrified them; he was well-known as a righteous man and yet cataclysmic circumstances had destroyed most of the good things he had in life. The book of Job is a profound story of bad things happening to good people.

The reaction of his “friends” – the onlookers who came to his side amidst his suffering – was to sully his reputation and to trumpet God’s justice as invariably meted out through circumstance. In their minds, bad things could NOT happen to good people for if that were true, they were certainly doomed.

Job didn’t remain silent in the midst of their attack. His words above were completely appropriate. For with “comforters” like these, who needs tormenters? Retroactive human judgment is as easy as it is erroneous. And the damage it does is as deep as that done by the trial it claims to justify. Job’s friends were miserable to him at this point. Kicking someone when s/he is down is cruel and childish.

Job then described what he would do in their place – and there is no reason to discard this as an egotistical boast, for Job had the goods in his character to rise above the temptation to tear others down. He also knew what he needed – encouragement in place of their brutal teardown.

The lesson is to be a friend like that. Even if there truly are reasons a person has fallen into dire straits, that person generally knows that and picking someone back up is infinitely more useful and good for everyone – including the would-be judge and jury. I both want to be like that and look for people who are like that when I’m going through stuff (and we all do).

The workings of insecure leadership

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮:𝟯-𝟰 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺; 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻.

Herod sensed rivalry, a threat to his rule and dynasty. A king had been born. Magi from the east had arrived and announced it. The news troubled all Jerusalem, for it represented a potential upset of order. The Messiah’s advent would mean upheaval and violent overthrow of the powers that be. For Herod’s part, though, taking the wise men seriously spoke about his tenuous security in his own power and position. He was part Edomite in a day when people of mixed breed were not accepted as fully Jewish. And he was a brutal dictator, executing people randomly and killing several members of his own family.

The slaughter of little boys in Bethlehem that followed was in keeping with his style of reign. It is but one of many biblical accounts of rivalry-driven repression and violence. From the first murder of Abel by his approval-jealous brother Cain, to the misadventures of spear-chucking King Saul and on into this account, even the appearance of challenging some people is a good way to get hunted and killed.

On a lesser but equally distressing scale – manipulation, reassignment and dismissal of those who could and would work as ultra-productive, servant-minded contributors, even if they one day rise to equal or higher rank and responsibility. While never ordering the slaughter of young children, some leaders would gladly clean house of people who might surpass their abilities and authority.

The inability/unwillingness to delegate often has rivalry at its heart. It cripples both corporations and bodies of believers. It is not tolerated to have a delegee surpass his/her superior.

The application is obviously two-sided. As one with any authority, do I squash the development of those looking to me for support or help? Of course there can be outright sedition and rebellion, but disagreement and different ways of doing things are not that; they may well be an improvement. No, as an authority, let me be one who nurtures and delegates power and work with joy.

As one reporting into hierarchy, let me not internalize being pushed aside. There is plenty to learn, even about my own temperament and limitations, but the motives of the mini-Herods do not allow my development, let me learn to move with God’s timing and direction to a place where I can grow. David hid in caves for a season of his life, where he wrote songs for his God, sung to his mighty men.

Blood in the city of merchants

Revelation 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.

The judgment of the city of Babylon is spelled out in no uncertain terms in Revelation 18.  While interpreters over the centuries have puzzled in depth about the identity and location of the city, it is both safer and more effective exegesis to stand Babylon up as the commercial world system.  The narrative calls her (and indeed identifies her visually) as a woman, though the association with femininity plays more to her particular variety of sin than anything else.  She was (and is) a prostitute, selling “intimacy” and profiting from it.  Her customers are merchant traders, for whom moral compromise never bore cause for reservation or restraint in personal gain.  Their book of business ethics was (and is) thin indeed.

In confused responses, these merchants both bewail and acknowledge the reasons for Babylon’s destruction.  They openly cite the way the city opposed those crying for its repentance and pointing out its iniquities.  So they “get it” regarding judgment though they themselves never turned from their sins.

The bottom line is the verse above.  Babylon was (and is) a murderous place.  It destroyed the lives of those sent to help.  It first mocked the righteousness proclaimed by the prophets and saints, then killed them.  “In her was found the blood” is an allusion to the scriptural principle of spilled blood actually telling a story of violence, injustice and human antipathy.  Babylon preferred murderous hatred to any thought of restraint or even reflection upon its transgressions.  Indeed, “all who have been slain on earth” shows the breadth of the prophecy and identifies Babylon as larger than a single physical earthly city.

Being caught up short in sin produces two basic responses – rebellion and repentance.  The subtle rebellion in postponing, fence-sitting or explaining away guilt and the destruction being caused by their sin is rebellion nonetheless, even as I practice it.  It is true that humans can enact and perform any side of the equation – prophets to penitent recipients – in their own strength and ceremony.  Such is religious penance and all manner of payoff for sin.  This causes jading in those who see the hypocrisy and insincere motion.  It is also true – and let this be my (and our) pursuit – that there is true, life-changing conviction and deep repentance that is an integral part of the salvation of both individuals, communities, cities and nations.

Repentance is not accompanied by pleasant sentiments, but it is a repeated, progressive cleansing of everything that evil needs to function.  And when it is lacking, it’s only a matter of time before blood flows.  But when it is done truly and with a heart towards God, there is new life, love and joy to follow.

Jesus died that we might have that life starting now and going into eternity.

Pure judgment

Revelation 19:1b-2 “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

It is easy to cast a heart marshaled performance and conformance onto God when judgment comes.  This verse and others point out that redress and justice are the real heart themes in the prophetic books of the Bible.  Crime, violence, murder and gross immorality should never triumph and when they do, there is pent-up desire that they be overthrown and assigned their just desserts.

While it’s true that humans can overdo this recompense, that is NOT true of God, whose “judgments are true and just”.  It can be a grave error to presume that I have anything like God’s perspective, knowledge or resulting measured response.  Put another way, I will always mete out judgment incorrectly – too lax or too harsh, at the wrong time, in the wrong way, etc.

But God’s judgment is part of the package we come to in Christ.  Indeed, it is the first door we come through, allowing our darkest deeds to be seen in light of what they are – selfish and destructive (see John 3:17ff).  And we must continue to let that light shine, even to the point of humiliation at the exposure of our most debased motivations.  If we do not, then we risk falling into the corruption of the “great prostitute”, self-justifying our thoughts, words and deeds and corrupting everything and everyone around us.

For the victims, there is restoration and relief that indeed that done against them has been avenged, because the proud triumph of evil has finally been brought down.  That’s what justice does, and it is right and good.

Conflict gone ballistic

Acts 6:11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

They had heard no such thing. Stephen simply had used the same scriptures they used to selectively enforce their oppressive reign over the people to show that Jesus was and is God the Son. And he was unbeaten in his debates; they simply had no answer for him.

So, out of that defeat and wounded pride came a set of false accusations that would eventually result in Stephen’s death. But first he would win one last debate – in front of the whole council of religious leaders.

The act of escalating a debate out of envy and malicious vengeance always produces overkill. But those who do it are pleased to gloat over their victory, however achieved. But it is of course no conflict resolution – it is only escalation to higher authorities who may or may not have the insight or even the compassion to judge or contend fairly and justly.

Do I handle conflict like this? Do I scheme, gather secret consensus and ally myself with those whose only agreement with me is resentment towards my foe? Certainly I can and must appeal to God my Father, both for encouragement and correction. But concerning correction – do I even entertain the possibility that I might be in the wrong? Am I refusing to learn, thinking I know it all? If so, I must remember the wisdom of humility, though it cost me some esteem for a time.

And when I am like Stephen, the winner of debate and the one who finishes atop my competitors, do I seek to reconcile with them, to re-establish peace and safety as much as is possible? We aren’t told about Stephen’s entreaties to his opponents; whether he approached them as friends after contending with them as ideological enemies. Whatever happened, there clearly was no reconciliation and matters only grew worse.

It’s not that peace is the ultimate goal. But it’s definitely one goal. Stephen was fighting, as any believer should, to proclaim the truth. Yet truth without mercy can be very cruel. Again, not being sure of what Stephen said or did, let me be sure to mend relationships when there has been the heat of debate or the bone of contention.

The need for a mighty hand

Exodus 3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.

Moses was speaking to God at the burning bush, a supernatural phenomenon where a fire was burning a desert shrub yet not consuming it. That miracle was non-destructive yet pointed to a spiritual presence that would be with Moses the rest of his days. He was being called to confront the most powerful man, ruling over the most powerful country, in the world.

The hesitance of Moses is predictable and it’s also inspiring that he went to do what God had commanded anyway. In the verse above God communicated that He well knew the disposition of Pharaoh. And God knew how to deal with it and him.

God knows the hearts of those who cling to power, wielding it like they are themselves indestructible. The compulsion to make them acquiescent to any suggestion, let alone command, can only be applied by something or someone stronger than they. Wars are fought to maintain the upper hand of power. And those wars needn’t be physical, they can be procedural, diplomatic or just be wars of words. Yet power is still held once they are fought – that is what matters to the kingpin.

Destructive measures are called for if the will of the one who rules is to be changed. It is unfortunate, but the measures which that one will go to are also destructive, so fire must be fought with fire. We can mourn the loss of so many others besides Pharaoh in what was to come, particularly when the angel of death came, but when you back a ruler, you share his/her pride and enforce his/her will. “Just following orders” will not hold up before justice.

So, a mighty hand would indeed compel Pharaoh and all Israel would see the wonders of God vividly and pointedly. In the merciful will of God one can surmise it was not Plan A, but to the wicked, God shows himself shrewd. Moses would say “Let my people go” but it was God speaking.

City of Refuge

Scripture:

Numbers 35:12 The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.

Observation:

Within the Torah, the law of Moses, there was place made for the accused. Given all the variations in human conduct and attitude, particular to behavior that harms others, justice demands due process when someone has been killed or undergone loss. In the case of the cities of refuge, someone was killed. It could have been that the refugee was a murderer or that the death happened by accident. The “avenger” in this scene was someone who wanted revenge. That person was likely a relative or loved one who was both in grief and anger over sudden loss. And so the vengeful action was blind, without considering the details of the death or the intent of the accused – the “manslayer”. The legal phrase “malice aforethought” came from this passage in the Bible and it was the distinction to be made at trial time for the accused person. The cities of refuge were constructed as a physical place of waiting in such cases, towns to which the accused was to quickly flee to escape the passions of the avenger. Thus, avengers were not allowed in to take justice upon themselves.

Now, trials would be held and justice would be done according to the law. If murder was committed, the accused did not go free. But if not, the manslayer would remain in the city of refuge until the death of the current high priest of Israel, presumably enough time for the passions surrounding the death to subside. So the protection afforded in those cities could last a long time – as long as the manslayer needed.

Application:

I have a city of refuge. Indeed I am PART of that city – the city set on a hill cited by Jesus in Matthew 5:14. Though I am no murderer I am guilty of assassinating character, of malice aforethought and all the intents therein. Indeed, it is no difficult projection to assign all humanity to the passions that cause murder, though almost always people stop short of the actual act. And guilty of this, I have come to Jesus for life itself – to be spared though I deserve none of it. He was executed for my crime and now I dwell in a city protected from the avenger who would take his vigilante justice out of my person. So my city of refuge is the city of the guilty as well as the falsely accused. An even better deal. The chorus of judges that would pronounce my guilt has been silenced.

Now, this is not a statement of absolution from earthly law. If I kill someone, steal something or otherwise commit crime I will suffer the consequences. And by and large, avengers are more subdued, unless one visits gang life to see them alive and well.

So also, let me never be the avenger though that too is a temptation that flows through my soul at times. Let me entrust myself and my situations to the One who judges justly. This requires patience and submission to process that is quite unpleasant at times. But if I enjoy mercy – and I do – I must also practice it.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the City of Refuge. I stand as a citizen only by the blood of Jesus. But I do stand, as I would have others to stand. Free, forgiven and forgiving. In Jesus’ name and for Your good pleasure, amen.

 

 

The liar crows – 1 Samuel 17:8-9 (April 15, 2013)

Scripture:

1 Samuel 17:8-9 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.”

Observation:

Goliath was a giant of a man. The 6 cubit height listed in 1 Samuel 17 is about three meters, or over nine feet. Gigantism can cause this kind of stature and though that size is rare, the account is trustworthy. So he stood before both armies, Philistine and Israelite, and crowed his defiance daily. And here he named the terms of engagement, the rules of battle, as it were. First, he gave his selective names to the armies. He was a Philistine and the Israelites were “servants of Saul” – singling out Saul, perhaps, as his choice of contender on the field that day. Or, he may have been mocking the nationality of Israel as a fragmented, disorganized gathering of tribes. Whatever his reason, it was to be a match of two proxies, a single man to man fight to the death. That is, when those two men fought, the war would begin and end with them. So, victory would mean that the entire army of the loser would serve the other nation. We aren’t told if Goliath had cleared this with the Philistine leadership; perhaps it is moot given his arrogance that he would easily win. But, by naming the way the war would be fought, he intimidated the army of Israel. No one would come to fight such a giant. Until David showed up with his sling.

Application:

When do I let Satan define the terms of battle? He has no power except in appealing to pride and shame. And both were in play with Goliath. Why didn’t Saul just send ten men out to run Goliath through, putting an end to the boasting of this too-large oaf. There is no evidence in the ensuing encounter with David that Goliath, though properly dressed, was such a great warrior. Slings were not an unusual weapon, yet he took no defensive posture as David came at him. No, the enemy only boasts. It’s all he can do because he is a pre-defeated foe. The only power I give him is my faith in what he says. And there are so many words that threaten my livelihood, my family, my church and my nation. The battleground is not his to name, nor are the tactics. I must reclaim the spiritual weaponry that God has given me and fight according to His word! So much of my internal conflict can be traced directly to empty threats and crowing accusations. Let me not respond in kind, but instead find my strength in the Lord. Let me know that the battle belongs to Him and that He never loses His fights. The Philistines did not honor the terms of Goliath’s agreement, such as it was. Instead, they fled and were slaughtered by the thousands. So I can believe nothing the enemy says; he owns no one’s allegiance past his first defeat.

Prayer:

Father, Yours is the battle. I ask that you show me my stones, my sling and grant the victory. For I trust in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jealousy’s poison – Acts 13:44-45 (February 6, 2013)

Scripture:

Acts 13:44-45 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

Observation:

Paul and Barnabas had been sent to preach the word of God wherever the Spirit would take them.  And they had visited Cyprus and then the province of Asia (today’s Turkey) and Pisidian Antioch, a place where this episode occurred.  Paul had delivered a sermon at the synagogue on the Sabbath and God had blessed his faithfulness with a substantial following of seekers.  Then the next Sabbath came and the attendance at the synagogue ballooned to record proportions.  The place was packed to hear the word of God.  Presumably, this had never happened before, for the Jewish adherents were deeply jealous.  The Law that they taught had never done this, though they longed for the prominence that accompanies notoriety.  They were jealous of Paul, deeply jealous it says.  Now, Paul was NOT preaching what they preached.  Jesus was, as far as a Jewish teacher of Mosaic Law was concerned, a heretic and a false prophet.  These, like their cohorts in Jerusalem, would have approved of the death of Jesus, saying “let his blood be on our heads and heads of our children.”  So, presented with the gospel, even the gospel founded solidly in the Law and Prophets, they would find ways to contradict grace with law and religion.  This was to become a common battle Paul would need to fight.  And it got personal – they heaped abuse on him, shaming him and likely questioning his credentials in order to disqualify him, though he undoubtedly outranked them in his learning.  But their base motive was raw jealousy.

Application:

Putting myself in the place of the synagogue rulers, I must ask God to convict me of anything I do out of jealousy.  The conflict that rivalry causes is enough to distort my relationships and pollute the message that I am called to communicate.  Is it a persuasive agnostic who offends me, an articulate atheist who wins people over with logic and reason?  Even if I viscerally disagree with what is spoken, jealousy can be my ruin.  Or, let’s not even leave the church to find such conflict.  Is it a proud evangelist who offends me?  Is it the pastor of a megachurch, whose pride can be cut with a knife?  If it’s easy to cite the person’s faults then I must be convicted that what really motivates me is jealousy.  And that won’t do.  God is a jealous God, but that is out of love for people.  My jealousy has none of that virtue; its grubbing, scratching and clawing for prominence is just under the surface.

Putting myself in Paul’s position, how do I respond to jealousy?  Do I rub my antagonists’ nose in their loss of prestige or do I affirm them in love?  We don’t have Paul doing the latter here, but that was mostly out of defense of his message, which he could not compromise.  But let me know that the one who evokes jealousy in others is completely prone to the worst pride and its most ugly expression of gloating.  That has no place in a believer; for among the opposition God saves His finest servants.  We aren’t told the eventual state of the rulers of this synagogue and I err if I presume that they all persisted in their resistance to grace.  I simply don’t know, but I do know God’s message is one of second, third and three-thousandth chances, like it or not in my neat evangelistic roundup expectations.  Just look at the life of Paul, O my soul, and see one who took his time to come around.

Prayer:

Lord, I need help with conflict like this.  My rivals are iconic in my mind’s eye, I pray You tear them down with a Holy Spirit reality check.  Grant me Your heart, Your perspective and joy.  Let me walk the walk of faith in the midst of opposition.  In Jesus’ name, amen.